Multi-Tenant Virtual Access Point- Network Resources Virtualization

Abstract

A method and system for virtualization of access points are disclosed. A venue owner or manager can deploy a plurality of wireless access point hardware units at a physical venue location. Various sets of virtual wireless access points that correspond to the plurality of wireless access point hardware units can be leased to various WLAN network operators, according to certain embodiments.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 deploying a plurality of wireless access point hardware units at a physical location;   associating a plurality of virtual wireless access points with a corresponding wireless access point hardware unit of the plurality of wireless access point hardware units at the physical location;   leasing a first subset of virtual wireless access points of the plurality of virtual wireless access points to a first WLAN network operator; and   leasing a second subset of virtual wireless access points of the plurality of virtual wireless access points to a second WLAN network operator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a cloud-based controller to manage the plurality of virtual wireless access points. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the first WLAN network operator to manage its IP address assignments independent of any other WLAN network operators associated with the physical location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the second WLAN network operator to manage its IP address assignments independent of any other WLAN network operators associated with the physical location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the owner of the physical location to earn revenue through leasing at least a subset of virtual wireless access points of the plurality of virtual wireless access points. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the owner of the physical location to group virtual wireless access points across multiple wireless access point hardware units. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless network comprising:
 a plurality of wireless access point hardware units deployed at a venue, wherein a wireless access point hardware unit of the plurality of wireless access point hardware units provides a plurality of virtual wireless access points;   wherein,
 the plurality of wireless access point hardware units are owned by an operator of the venue; 
 a first subset of virtual wireless access points of the plurality of virtual wireless access points is owned by a first WLAN provider; and 
 a second subset of virtual wireless access points of the plurality of virtual wireless access points is owned by a second WLAN provider. 
   
     
     
         8 . The wireless network of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one cloud-based controller for managing the plurality of virtual wireless access points. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless network of  claim 7 , wherein virtual wireless access points are capable of being grouped across multiple wireless access point hardware units. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless network of  claim 7 , wherein the first subset of virtual wireless access points of the plurality of virtual wireless access points is associated with a first set of IP addresses that is capable of being assigned independently with respect to a second set of IP addresses associated with the second subset of virtual wireless access points. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless network of  claim 7 , wherein each group of virtual wireless access points is associated with a service set identifier (SSID). 
     
     
         12 . The wireless network of  claim 7 , wherein each group of virtual wireless access points is associated with a unique group name.